Mackinac Bridge Memorial Race Report

[wtpclc]

Ok, this was like no run I’ve ever done before (because I am a real vet, you know ).

It was a continuous start. You were assigned a bus on the south side of the bridge, bussed to the north side and then you started anytime after 6 am. Being runners 104 and 105, we were in the first group. Buses scheduled to be out at 5:30 am. Had to be there at 5:15. OK, up at 4:15, left the hotel by 5. Really slept in compared to Disney. Just like Disney, though, we got no sleep. Wish it was due to the excitement. Double bed, noise outside, parking lot lights coming in. Fun.

OK, so we get to the parking area and have to walk to the bus pickup area, which was right by the finish. You can see that the crowds were terrible.

Over the bridge and we were dropped off. There was a bit of frustration on the bus that the sign side “Joggers”, not runners. People were kind of grumpy about that.

The bridge was beautiful, though.

The cool part for us was that we got to walk on the southbound side of the bridge. This gave us bragging rights in the family, because we’ve walked the bridge Labor Day for about 12 years. For that, though, it’s the north side.

We get off the bus and the guy with the megaphone tells us that after 6 we can start and that we run to the road and turn right. Duh… Seeing as it is the bridge run, kind of figured we’d be on the bridge.

OK, walk to the restrooms. There were 3 busloads dropped off and 3 women’s restrooms. Yes, there was a bit of a line. At least there were not porta-potties, though. So, I’m in line and these women were talking about the Bayshore Marathon. Happening this weekend. I mentioned that the kid that sold me my shoes was doing that. (I know he had to be 17, because he did a marathon in the fall, but must have just turned 17 in the fall. He looked 12!) I told them that he had a 4:30 when he ran the first one, kind of on a whim and that he wanted to break 4 this weekend. :O

A guy sitting nearby on a bench casually asks one of the women, “What’s you get at Boston?” :O :O “Oh, I just ran it for funs, as I only qualified by getting under 4 by 30 seconds. I just got a 4:15.” Open mouth, insert foot. Not that it was hard to get my foot in with my jaw on the floor! The woman was in her late 50s, early 60s maybe. (I did tell her about Disney and she wanted to know what parks it went though and such, so I may have recruited another one! )

OK, time to wander to the start, as it’s a bit after 6 by the time I was done. We reach the start and go through it. Very odd. I forgot to start the garmin for a few feet, as there was no gun, no nothing.

 

[wtpclc]

Get on the bridge (remembered that right turn, whew, and we were going a bit fast. Had to inform dh that he just broke 10. (Just doing my job as the anchor. )

It was gorgeous. The sun rising to the east. The bridge in front of us. Not many runners as we were near the end of the first group after our bathroom stop.

The towers are getting closer. (So is the steep part of the bridge.) OK, running the first 1.5 to 2 miles up hills is kind of tiring. We were nowhere near 10 anymore. Towers are still a bit away and we have to get halfway between them to start the downhill.

Of, course, we had to get pics, though. (Don’t tell dh, but running ahead to have him take mine was rough!)

Woo hoo! We hit the suspension portion! Kind of a bummer that we could not run on the grates. I would not have made it for long, but I love looking down through them at the water.

Woo hoo, past the first tower!

Woo hoo! Half way! (Now where’s that downhill???)

 

[wtpclc]

From there, it flew! (and so did we!)

Still was not sure how far it was to the end, as we only hit mile 4 near the end of the bridge. Trying to figure out how we were going to get up to 5.6. Next thing I knew, some guy says we’re almost there. 100 yards to go. DH asked if I had anything left for a kick. I told him yes, but we can’t be done yet. “I’ll go when I see that finish line!”

OK, time to move! The cool thing about such a small race is that you were really spread out and people were cheering you in. I did hear one guy yell “Way to kick it in!” Then again, I may have gone faster if I realized it was about a mile shorter than I thought.

Stopped for a pic before we headed fro breakfast.

Yup, breakfast. Hot, catered. (Scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, fruit, muffins) Guess there are benefits to small races. Final count was 535.

Oh, and they advertised 12 mpm and no stopping or walking on the bridge, but there were a lot of woggers. I’m pretty sure as long as you start early, so that you end before the lane reopens, you’d be fine. Any more takers for next year?

Oh, here are our splits:

Mile 1 - 10:44 (that hill evened out that sub 10 at the start)
Mile 2 - 11:10 (darn hill)
Mile 3 - 10:16 (can you say crested?)
Mile 4 - 10:07 (lovin' that downhill!)
Mile 5 - 9:26 (really lovin' that downhill, even those there were a couple little hills at the end)
Last 342 feet - 6:51 (And that was uphill!) :clappingh (we won't talk places )

 

[princessmomma]

Carrie, Love, love, love the pictures! Great report.

I know I am addicted to running/races when my heart rate increases just seeing runners (not joggers) with a number pinned on.

 

[wtpclc]

lol Colleen! I must confess, we probably aer more like joggers, but it's the principle!

I forgot to get a good shot of the medals. I can't belive how cool they were! Basically, a person running on the bridge, but fro such a small race, I was really impressed!

 

[AmyBeth68]

THANKS for the awesome race report Carrie! The pictures were great....what a cool place to run!!!! And Super splits!!!!

 

[gatorphipps]

I just love your report! Thanks for sharing...and you both looked GREAT at the end!

 

[ScoJo15]

this race looks so cool!! Thanks for the awesome pics and report! And way to go!! Nice splits!!

 

[solotraveler]

Carrie!!

Great race report and great pics.

Honestly, when I saw the pictures I was a little suprised at how.... close... the traffic seemed to the race course. I suppose, though that closing down an entire direction of traffic for the race on Memorial Day weekend would be a no-go.

Great pace too!!!

Kevin

 

[wtpclc]

Thanks for reading my report and the compliments ebveryone!

Christa - Ummmm, we probably look good because it was a mile shorter than we thought and we could have run faster.

Solo - For the Laobor Day walk, they shut down both lanes on the northbound until 9:30 am. There are over 100,00o poeple then. Picture all of the Big House emptying onto the bridge. So, maybe when the race gets almost 200 times bigger, they'll give us another lane. Besides, they have a "caution Joggers on Bridge", what more do you need.

 

[Kristi1357]

Great report, Carrie!

 

[msblrobs]

Great race report and awesome pics!! You guys look wonderful at the finish.